Title:  How can I save my email off the UW central server?

Question:
I would like to save email onto my personal computer. How can I do that?

Answer:
There are a few ways to save your email to places other than the usual UW
server.  You can use either of these methods, depending on which you prefer.
The different methods you can use to save mail are as follows:

  1. Use an IMAP client such as Outlook Express to create local folders on
     your computer.

  2. Export email to text files using Pine, then copy those to your
     computer.


1.  Creating local folders on a Personal Computer:

  A. Outlook Express

  If you do not have Outlook Express already set-up to read your email, you
  can do so by following the instructions at:

  http://www.washington.edu/computing/email/

  In Outlook Express, Local Folders as well as your UWNetID account will
  be listed in the left-hand pane.  You can drag and drop any message from
  one folder to another in Outlook Express.  To move messages from your
  UWNetID account to a Local Folder:

    I. Highlight Local Folders in the left pane.

    II. Select New->Folder from the File menu.

    III. Enter the name of the new folder (e.g. archive).

    IV. Highlight the folder (e.g. Inbox) in your UWNetID account in the
        left pane to display the messages in that folder.

    V. Click and drag the message into the folder that was created under
       local folders.

  To drag and drop multiple messages, highlight all that you want to move
  and then drag those into the new folder.  To highlight consecutive
  messages, click on the first message that you would like to move.  Now
  go to the last message you would like to move and, while holding down
  the shift key, click on that last message. To highlight non-consecutive
  messages, hold down the ctrl key and click on each message that you
  would like to highlight.


  B. Mozilla

  If you do not have Mozilla already set-up to read your email, you can do so
  by following the instructions at:

  http://www.washington.edu/computing/email/

  Using Mozilla Mail to save emails is very similar to using OE, except
  that Mozilla places the Local Mail collection at the bottom of the left
  pane.  Follow the directions for Outlook Express.


2. Export Email in Pine or PC-Pine:

  A. Open the message.
  B. Type 'e' for export.
  C. Type the name of the file you want, for example email1.txt and hit
     return.

NOTE: The file will be saved on the Uniform Access server (Homer, Dante,
      Aagaard etc) by default.  If you are using PC-Pine you can specify a
      file on your local machine by entering a complete path (e.g.
      C:\mail\email1.txt).

  D. Transfer the file to the local computer using a file transfer program
     such as SSH Secure Ftp for Windows or Secure Fetch for Mac.

NOTE: Messages will not retain their attachments.  Attachments should be
      transfered separately.

Also, if you would like to export multiple messages, you can use the
following sequence:

  A. Go to the mail folder with the messages to save.
  B. Type ';' (without the quotes) to begin a selection.
  C. Type 'a' to select all or use one of the other options specified.
  D. Type 'a' to apply a command.
  E. Type 'e' for export.
  F. Specify a filename when prompted.

This will export all the messages as one text file.  If you would like
separate files for each email, you will need to export them one at a time.

Please call Computing & Communications Information, at 206-543-5970
if you have any questions.